Thursday, March 27, 2014

The City of El Paso has provided updates on three public park projects currently underway around town. The parks are just three in a myriad that will see improvement projects in the coming years, many of which are funded by the 2012 Quality of Life bond initiative approved by voters.

Recently installed playground and athletic equipment at the new Fiesta-Balboa park. (City of El Paso)

Fiesta-Balboa Park on the West Side is the closest to completion. This project has transformed vacant properties near Mesa Street into a pocket park that includes amenities such as a basketball court, play equipment, benches, and landscaping.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

City to Hold First Outreach Workshop for Arena, Children’s Museum, & Cultural Center

The firm chosen by the City of El Paso to help determine the sites for the Quality of Life ‘Signature Projects’ will hold the first of four public outreach workshops today. HKS, Inc. of Dallas will be introduced at the March 26 meeting and will outline steps for the proposed Master Plan Study.

The location for the upcoming Quality of Life ’Signature Projects’ has not yet been determined. HKS, Inc., a firm out of Dallas, will hold outreach meetings to get public opinion on the projects. This image is part of a City of El Paso brochure indicating projects that were on the 2012 ballot (City of El Paso)

The three signature projects approved by voters in 2012 include a Multipurpose Cultural and Performing Arts Facility (Arena), a Children’s Museum, and a Hispanic Cultural Center. Seventy-one percent of voters approved the measure.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

An apartment building geared toward senior living is next to open as part of the Montecillo smart growth development in West El Paso, and a new website for the housing project is now up.

Rendering of the View at Montecillo senior apartment building which will open soon. Its website was recently debuted. (theviewatmontecillo.com )

The View at Montecillo will offer urban apartment living to the “55+ Active Adult Community” in El Paso, according to the website (theviewatmontecillo.com), and will include several amenities within the apartment building. This includes a 24-hour fitness center, an onsite salon, a billiards area, a movie theater, and a resistance lap pool. Also included will be a pet park, a clubhouse, a bocce court, and an outdoor “entertainment arcade.”

Monday, March 24, 2014

A popular frozen yogurt shop with two El Paso locations will soon open up its third, according to the company website. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt will open up at the Fountains at Farah shopping center on the East Side.

Menchie’s opened its first Sun City location in 2011 at Sunland Towne Centre on the West Side, and opened an East Side location at Rojas Commons last year. The California based company has over 350 locations worldwide with another 350 in the works.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Loop 375 in Far East El Paso may be expanded from four to six lanes in the coming years between Montana Avenue and Bob Hope Drive. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) will hold a community meeting later this month to provide information on the project.

(Texas Dept. of Transportation)

The agency is considering adding a 12-foot travel lane in each direction to the East Side freeway in what is considered the fastest growing area of El Paso. Currently, commuters have two lanes in each direction traveling north and south.

Drivers along this stretch of Loop 375 may currently notice an extra-wide inside shoulder, part of which looks like an unused lane. TXDOT may clarify at the meeting if this is the portion of the freeway where the additional lane will be added.

Additional lanes are also planned for Loop 375 from Montana Avenue to Northeast El Paso.

The public meeting will be held on March 27, 2014, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the TXDOT East Area Office at 1430 Joe Battle Boulevard.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Before the upcoming Brio RTS begins to steal Sun Metro headlines, El Paso’s mass transit system has just added 22 buses to its regular fleet. The new buses will replace other units currently being retired.

The new units are 2014 New Flyer Xcelsior models, 40-foot buses which will be powered by compressed natural gas. The Xcelsiors offer better fuel economy, low floors, LED interior lighting, and a more aerodynamic design.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A new eatery has been added to the lineup of the Fountains at Farah shopping center in East El Paso. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, an Arizona-based pizza and calzone chain, will be located in the Promenade lifestyle section of the center.

The interior of a Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, from the restaurant chain’s website. A new location will open at the Fountains at Farah this year. (www.grimaldispizzeria.com)

It will be the 11th Texas location for the restaurant chain, which has a total of 32 locations throughout the United States.

“Our team searches the country for the best restaurant sites, and we’re excited about opening our eleventh location in Texas,” said Joey Ciolli, president and chief executive officer of Grimaldi's Pizzeria, in a press release.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Tickets for the El Paso Chihuahuas Triple-A baseball home opener sold out within a few hours on Saturday, when single-game tickets first went on sale. The 7,500-seat stadium will have its grand opening on April 28, 2014, beginning an eight game home stand.

In a press release, General Manager Brad Taylor stated, "Once again El Paso and the region has shown their passion and desire for Triple-A baseball. We are thankful that so many want to be a part of Chihuahuas baseball from the beginning and going forward."

The team held an event at the Convention Center on Saturday to promote the beginning of single game tickets being on sale. Previously, only season tickets were available for purchase.

Fans can still purchase tickets for other games at the Abraham Chavez Box Office beginning March 17, 2014, or by going to epchihuahuas.com. Reserved seats start at $8 in advance and $10 the day of the game.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Installation of the Foster Tree House is nearly complete at the El Paso Zoo, and officials have announced that the new facility will open to the public on March 8, 2014.

The new Foster Tree House opens at the Zoo on March 8, 2014. (El Paso Zoo)

Paul Foster and Alejandra De La Vega Foster donated $500,000 for the play area which will consist of five tree houses, the tallest of which will rise 16 feet off the ground. The elevated platform will give children a 360-degree view of the surrounding Zoo area.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The lockers that El Paso Chihuahuas baseball players will use have arrived at the stadium site and are ready for installation. A photograph of one of the lockers, which are courtesy of Jordan Foster Construction, shows wooden paneling with an "EP" emblazoned on the lower panel.

Team officials also announced today that the ballpark will be named Southwest University Park. The new name for the stadium is part of a 20 year sponsorship agreement with Southwest University at El Paso. Opening day for the stadium is scheduled for April 28, 2014.

A new bird’s eye view photograph of the Montecillo Town Center construction site shows significant progress in leveling off the area. The lifestyle center is part of the larger Montecillo SmartCode development on El Paso’s West Side.

In the photograph, posted by ZTEX Construction of El Paso on its Facebook page (facebook.com/ztexconst) last week, the Venue at Montecillo apartment buildings can be seen across Mesa Street, to the west. The Montecillo Town Center may open as early as fall of 2014.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Crews began installing seats this past weekend at the Triple-A baseball stadium in Downtown El Paso. The event was kicked off by the El Paso Chihuahuas’ first season ticket holders, Dr. Brent Michener and Jill Michener, and by the winner of the “Name the Team” contest, Shae Vierra.

The seat installation marks another milestone in the stadium’s construction timeline, which is nearing its end and should culminate with the ballpark’s opening in late April. About 7,500 seats will be installed throughout the park. No word on how many of those seats have been purchased by season ticket holders.

Lighting has already been installed many feet above the ballpark, and work is ongoing to get the playing field finished as crews continue pouring gravel and sand to lay the foundation for sod.

Last month, team officials opted to not play the Chihuahuas’ first home stand in El Paso to give construction crews more time to complete the stadium. The Chihuahuas are now aiming for an opening date of April 28, 2014.